Myschoolbookclub.com launches

What with the magazines, leaflets, money and paperwork of current school book clubs, encouraging reading isn't exactly made easy for teachers already struggling their way through a time-pressured curriculum. But there is an easier way says David Teale, who has just launched My School Book Club (www.myschoolbookclub.com), a new online book club that aims to make the best children's books more accessible and affordable to kids, parents and teachers, and eliminate the negatives of current school book clubs. So how does it work? What does it offer? And how will schools and young readers benefit? David Teale talks to The Good Web Guide.

INTERVIEW

Describe the concept behind My School Book Club?

The aim is to sell books that children will ENJOY: good books, but approachable ones and nothing explicitly to do with school testing. The aim is to make reading pleasurable and help mental and personal development of children by guiding their reading. Everything is online - no paper mailings. There is no commitment to buy any books and no obligations as in old-fashioned book clubs.

What sort of books does it offer?

It's a mixture of books old and new, from Babar and a graphic novel of Kidnapped to the latest good, funny books now so popular (eg. the Mr Gum series). Everything is very carefully chosen by me. I began The Red House Children's Book Club in 1979 and ran it until the late 90s when I sold it to the American publisher Scholastic. I now have four grown-up daughters and six grandchildren to try books out on.

Apart from books, what else does My School Book Club offer?

Integral to the website are biographies, audio clips and video clips of the authors and illustrators, and items connected to the books on offer, relevant downloads of interest to children, articles on aspects of reading and literature, and connections where appropriate and safe to third party websites.

How will My School Book Club benefit schools?

At the click of a mouse and by typing in the school name and address (and logo if required) schools automatically create their own personalised book club website and benefit from parental purchases by receiving free books. The club is recommended by top authors - Michael Morpurgo, Rod Campbell, Jackie Wilson among others.

Who is it aimed at?

Children up to the age of 12 and schools. But it's not just schools who should join. It's a perfect way of buying the best children's books, at prices that beat others including Amazon, for people unconnected with schools and for grandparents.

How will it be publicised in schools?

We have sent leaflets to 15,000 primary schools and private schools (about half the UK total) telling them about the scheme, with a copy and a letter to heads, head of English and the head of the PTA. This will be re-enforced by an email to each school from Michael Morpurgo, the bestselling author of over one hundred children's books, who is very supportive of the idea.

How will My School Book Club make life easier for teachers?

My School Book Club cuts out all the work for teachers. All the school has to do is sign on, which is free and is very simple, tell parents of the existence of the club, for which we supply a sample letter, and choose their free books once parents have bought.

How many schools do you hope will use the service?

Every school and pre-school would benefit from the service, so the answer is around 30,000 schools around the UK. Then there are several thousand International Schools outside the UK which teach in English and which would also find the service invaluable.

How you think My School Book Club will help kids to become more enthusiastic about reading?

We choose books which are well written and well illustrated but particularly ones which will enthuse children. Nothing boring, nothing is there just because it is worthy or popular on TV. Each is carefully selected and graded by age suitability, with 12 to 15 books for each age level. And we have great graphic novels for children who are daunted by too many words.

Watch out for

Discounts are 25% to 50% plus, including a section we are now calling pocket money books, at 99p each, irrespective of published price (£3.99 to £10.99). Of special note are lots of copies signed by the authors (eg War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, Dear Zoo pop-up by Rod Campbell, Ginger by Charlotte Voake and others).

REGISTER YOUR SCHOOL

To create your own school book club, just go to www.myschoolbookclub.com

READ OUR REVIEW

The Good Web Guide reviews My School Book Club here

Interview by Emily Jenkinson

29th April 09